João Fernandes, the newly sworn in president of the Algarve Tourism Region (RTA), assured the Sul Informação that there is support to help boost tourism in the area affected by the great fire in Monchique, which only this Friday was given with «dominated», after a week.
For now, RTA has already started «to contact tourist entertainment companies, local accommodation and tourist enterprises in the affected area, to understand what damage they eventually suffered», explained João Fernandes.
"We already have a preliminary list, with those who assisted us, because there are those who still have no communications or were not available to assist us," he said.
Lifting is for two types of supports. On the one hand, the «treasury support line, which was still open at the time of Pedrogão, through Turismo de Portugal», on the other hand, a «offer qualification line, which was announced at my inauguration, for the direct for the qualification of hotels, restaurants, etc», added the president of RTA.
But, because it is not possible to stay only with the «rehabilitation of infrastructure», having to move towards the «rehabilitation of the entire environment», João Fernandes announced, in his statements to the Sul Informação, that «with Almargem and João Ministro [of the ProActiveTur company], we are working on a plan to replace the signs [on the Via Algarviana and other trails], as well as some reforestation measures, to tackle the problems now, quickly, and prepare for the future».
"We have to redirect ourselves towards the rehabilitation of infrastructure, but also of the surroundings, because the environment is what brings people to visit these areas of the Algarve", he stressed.
In addition to the telephone contacts already made, to prepare such a preliminary list, João Fernandes revealed that, soon, direct contacts will be made with the affected businessmen. «We are preparing, with Turismo de Portugal, a field trip, to inform people on the spot these support lines'.
It is because, underlined the president of the Algarve Tourism Region, «we have to give a more positive sign, of the sector's resurgence».
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